November 14, 2024

Cabbage Roll Casserole

This Cabbage Roll Casserole is everything you love about classic cabbage rolls only much easier to make and assemble. A hearty and healthy meal made with lean ground beef, tomato sauce, simple seasonings, rice, cabbage, and cheese. So good!

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What You’ll Love About Cabbage Roll Casserole:

Simple ingredients
Easy to assemble
Minimal clean-up
Comfort food flavors
Satisfying and healthy

For all my cabbage lovers or those looking to incorporate this versatile veggie in your diet, Cabbage Roll Casserole is a fantastic, easy-to-please recipe.

I love cabbage rolls and my mom made the best, but if you know anything about the process it takes to make and assemble each roll, I just ain’t got time for that!

A few months back I shared my Cabbage Roll Soup (so delish) and it became a fast favorite with my family.

Cabbage Roll Casserole is even easier to make, the ingredients are simple, and the flavor is everything you should expect from traditional cabbage rolls.

Check out my easy steps below!

Do you enjoy casseroles? Try my popular Big Mac Casserole, or other favorites like Ground Beef Burrito Bowl Bake, and my Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole.

Simple Ingredients:

Ingredients list. Ground beef, green cabbage, tomato sauce, chicken broth, onions, garlic, cheese, olive oil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried dill.

Olive oil- I use olive oil to sauté the cabbage.
Cabbage- Green cabbage is typically used for cabbage rolls. You’ll want to chop the whole head in 1 inch bite size pieces. You don’t want the leaves to be too big.
Seasonings- Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried dill.
Ground beef- I like to use lean ground beef so the dish doesn’t come out oily or greasy feeling.
Onions and garlic- Aromatics to help flavor and season the ground beef.
Chicken broth- You’ll need cooking broth to help cook the rice or use beef broth for a richer, beef flavor.
Tomato sauce- Use a good quality tomato sauce for the best taste.
White rice- You’ll want to use long-grain white rice.
Cheese- I use sharp cheddar cheese but Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Mozzarella, and Italian cheese blend work great.
Parsley- I like to garnish with parsley for fresh touch.

Substitutions and Additions:

Ground meat- Use ground turkey or ground pork instead of beef.
Seasonings- Try adding other seasonings and herbs like smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, tarragon, or parsley.
Other veggies- Add other veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach. Make sure to sauté them first before assembling the casserole.
Flavor boosters- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce along with 1 tbsp of brown sugar. This combination adds great flavor and balance.
Rice substitute- Swap out the white rice for 1 1/2 cups of cauliflower rice. You’ll need to make sure and cook down the beef sauce until it thickens before adding the cauliflower rice otherwise it will be too soupy.

How To Make Cabbage Roll Casserole:

See full instructions in recipe card below

Step One. Preheat oven to 350℉ and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

Step Two. In a large deep skillet on medium heat add oil, chopped cabbage, Italian seasoning, dried dill, salt and pepper. Sauté until leaves just start to wilt. Transfer to bowl and set aside.

Step Three. Brown ground beef along with onions and garlic, then stir in tomato sauce, chicken broth, rice, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a low boil and place the lid on. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until rice is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Cooked beef and rice with onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and chicken broth.

Step Four. Add half of the cabbage to your prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Add half of the meat and rice mixture also spreading out in an even layer. Top with cheddar cheese and repeat the layers starting with the cabbage, meat mixture, and finishing with remaining cheese.

One layer of cook cabbage in 9×13 baking dish.

Meat and rice mixture spread over first layer of cabbage in baking dish.

Shredded cheese on top of meat and rice mixture.

A second layer of cabbage, meat mixture, and cheese making two layers in casserole dish.

Step Five. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until hot, bubbly, and top is browned. Top with fresh parsley if desired and serve.

Recipe Tips:

💡Don’t overcook cabbage- Be careful not to overcook the cabbage when you sauté in the skillet. It should be tender and still have a slight bite to it.
💡Faster casserole- Skip layering the ingredients in a baking dish. Make and assemble ingredients in an oven safe, large deep skillet. Combine cooked cabbage and cooked meat and rice mixture in your skillet and top with cheese. Bake in the oven as directed in the recipe instructions.

Common Questions:

🗨Can I make cabbage roll casserole ahead of time?

Yes! Follow all the cooking and assembling instructions up until placing the casserole in the oven. Allow to cool and cover tightly with foil and place in the refrigerator up to 1-day in advance. Remove from the refrigerator 30-minutes prior to baking. Place in preheated 350℉ oven and bake covered with foil for 30-minutes. Pull off the foil and bake an additional 10-minutes.

🗨Can I freeze cabbage roll casserole?

Yes! Follow all the cooking and assembling instructions up until placing in the oven. Cover tightly with two layers of foil and allow to cool completely. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, remove from the freezer and set in the refrigerator for 1-2 days until completely thawed. Place in preheated 350℉ oven and bake covered with foil for 30-40minutes. Pull off the foil and bake an additional 10-minutes or until the top is golden brown.

🗨What can I serve with this casserole?

Cabbage roll casserole is a complete meal in one, but a side of green beans, or a simple salad would be a nice addition.

One serving of cabbage roll casserole on a plate.

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 50

Servings: servings

Calories: 533kcal

Equipment

1 large, deep skillet with fitted lid
1 9×13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

For the Cabbage:

2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium head of cabbage, core removed, and chopped in 1-2 inch pieces, about 10 cups
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Meat and Rice Mixture:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups chicken broth
1 (15) ounce can tomato sauce
1 cup long grain white rice
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Additional Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉ and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat a large deep skillet with fitted lid to medium heat. Add 2 tbsp oil, chopped cabbage, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Use tongs to toss and sauté for 5-6 minutes just until slightly wilted. Be careful not to overcook the cabbage. Transfer cooked cabbage to a plate and set aside.
In the same skillet brown ground beef and onions, breaking beef into crumbles until no longer pink. If using a higher fat beef, make sure to remove excess grease. Add garlic and cook 1-minute or until fragrant.
Next, stir in tomato sauce, chicken broth, rice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Turn heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Cover with lid and turn heat down to low. Cook for 12-15 minutes (stirring 1-2 times during the cooking time) until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed into the rice. Remove from the heat.
Add half of the cooked cabbage to your prepared baking dish, then top with half of the meat and rice mixture, and 1 cup of cheese. Repeat with the remaining cabbage, meat and rice mixture, and 1/2 cup cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and top is browned. Garnish with fresh parsley and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into squares.

Notes

Tips:

Don’t overcook cabbage- Be careful not to overcook the cabbage when you sauté in the skillet. It should be tender and still have a slight bite to it.
Faster casserole- Skip layering the ingredients in a baking dish. Make and assemble ingredients in an oven safe, large deep skillet. Combine cooked cabbage and cooked meat and rice mixture in your skillet and top with cheese. Bake in the oven as directed in the recipe instructions.

Substitutions and Additions:

Ground meat- Use ground turkey or ground pork instead of beef.
Seasonings- Try adding other seasonings and herbs like smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, tarragon, or parsley.
Other veggies- Add other veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach. Make sure to sauté them first before assembling the casserole.
Flavor boosters- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce along with 1 tbsp of brown sugar. This combination adds great flavor and balance.
Rice substitute- Swap out the white rice for 1 1/2 cups of cauliflower rice. You’ll need to make sure and cook down the beef sauce until it thickens before adding the cauliflower rice otherwise it will be too soupy.

Common Questions:

Can I make cabbage roll casserole ahead of time?

Can I freeze cabbage roll casserole?

What can I serve with this casserole?

Cabbage roll casserole is a complete meal in one, but a side of green beans or a simple salad would be a nice addition.

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

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